Empower (41 page)

Lincoln stood tall, never wavering in his authority. ‘Team two: you are our front-line fighters. All gifted warriors, you will have the privilege of being led by the two greatest warriors of our history – Seth and Decima.’

There were a number of cheers, and when Lincoln looked to them, both Seth and Decima gave a vacant nod of approval.

‘Team three,’ Lincoln continued. ‘You are a team of Rogues and your cunning will be our key to attacking the exiles and fortifying around our own people, who will fight Sammael’s hurricane. I ask that you follow the leadership of your fellow Rogues Gray and Carter.’

Again a few hoots went up, some in agreement, others arguing, but all in all they took it well. Carter threw me a wink, and for the life of me I’d never seen the man look so damn proud of himself.

‘Team four: you
are our heavy lifters and telekinetics. You will work hand in hand with team five and follow their ultimate directive. When you are not working with team five, you will be on the ground fighting. You will be led by the Academy Vice, Josephine, and by Griffin Moore.’

Josephine looked intrigued, but she nodded Lincoln on all the same. As I expected, Griffin simply accepted his place and would do his part.

‘Finally, group five: your contribution to this battle will be the most vital. You are some of our most gifted Grigori – our nature users.’ Lincoln paused and took a deep, calm breath. ‘If he will agree, I ask that you be led by Phoenix. I’m sure you all know who he is and that he is an exile. What you may not know is that he is only here with us because he sacrificed his own angelic nature in order to save the only Grigori ever made by one of the Sole. He is an exile, he is human, and he is our ally.’

I looked towards where Phoenix had been standing alone. He was closer now, listening to Lincoln, his hands still in his pockets. Gradually all eyes on the vessel moved in his direction.

Phoenix finally looked up and out to the crowd, as if making a decision. He pressed his lips together briefly before speaking. ‘Some of you will die. Perhaps all of you. I will not lead you to your death – but I will go and I will stand at the helm to fight for the life of this city. If you choose, you may follow.’

His words were so … Phoenix. A complication.

One by one the nature users walked towards him, moving to stand behind him.

Lincoln nodded to Phoenix and then they shared a flash-smile. I looked at Lincoln for an explanation, and he bent to whisper in my ear. ‘I just made Josephine and her entire team answerable to a dark exile.’

I tried not to smile
as I quickly looked to Josephine, who once again threw me completely by simply flashing me her own, knowing, smile.

‘I really hope she doesn’t try to kill Phoenix before the fight even gets started,’ I murmured.

‘We move out in three hours,’ Lincoln announced. ‘Be ready and well-armed. We will have additional weapons set up in the weaponry below that have been … enhanced,’ he said, glancing at me and winking. ‘Our base of operations will remain here but if the hurricane manages to …’ His words trailed off, but everyone knew what he was going to say. ‘There will be a secondary base that has been set up at a nearby sports dome south-west of here. This will also be where we send any people in need of help. Maps will be provided.’ He looked out over the masses of Grigori before him.

We were going to war. We all knew it. There was nothing more to say. Lincoln clearly felt this way, too, simply nodding and repeating, ‘Three hours.’

The crowd began to disperse, heading off with their teams to find weapons. Lincoln wrapped his hand around mine and I could tell he was keen to slip away and start our preparations, but Gray was in front of us before we managed to do so. He crossed his arms and looked every bit the big bad warrior as he stared down at me. ‘I still don’t like you two going up there alone.’

I shrugged. ‘You’ll get over it.’

His eyes narrowed and he turned to Lincoln. ‘I see you haven’t done anything for her attitude.’

Lincoln laughed. ‘I like her attitude.’

‘You bloody
well would,’ Gray said before clasping Lincoln’s hand and turning worried eyes back on me.

I started to squirm, not ready for this discussion.

The one where people figure you’re about to die, so they say something nice.

Gray took my hand and kissed the back of it. ‘I’ve been honoured to follow you.’

I snorted. ‘You don’t follow me, Gray. You don’t follow anyone.’

He smirked. ‘Princess, I’ve been following you since the day you showed up in my city a year ago. You just never realised.’ He dropped his head fractionally. ‘And my service remains yours, eternally.’

I froze, my eyes fixed on Gray’s retreating figure as he walked away.

Rogues most
certainly
do not serve anyone, ever.

‘Are you really that surprised?’ Lincoln asked softly.

Ah, yes. Yes I am.

Attempting to thaw from the shock I could only manage to stare at Lincoln’s amused eyes. He seemed to have no trouble hearing my unspoken response.

Once I had my faculties back under control I glanced around and caught Josephine’s eye again. She’d been watching, and I could almost see her mind ticking over, making me wonder, yet again, if she was playing another angle.

‘Onyx is right,’ came a familiar voice from behind me, ‘There is never a dull moment with you.’

I turned to see Dapper leaning against a steel wall, watching me with a knowing smile. I knew why instantly.

He can see my aura.
Our
auras.

‘Why?’ I
asked Dapper, noticing that Onyx was there too, standing apart and talking quietly with Chloe. Grigori were here to play their part in the fight, but Dapper and Onyx were not able to fight and yet had willingly entered this city knowing it was likely a one-way ticket.

‘I heard that a lot of Rogues were going to be here and I figured you could use someone with some extra healing abilities on standby.’

I nodded, pressing my lips together to fight back the tears. Rogues rarely still had their partners, which made healing a problem. Dapper’s help would be very much needed.

I glanced over to where Onyx and Chloe were still talking, their body language awkward yet a genuine bond evident between them. ‘What’s the story between those two anyway?’ I asked.

Dapper was watching them too. ‘Oh, it’s one of violence, death, regret and forgiveness.’ He turned back to me. ‘You know the type.’

I already knew that was all he was going to say. ‘I have an idea,’ I said, smiling as Onyx sauntered towards us.

‘And why did you come?’ I asked, looking at Onyx.

He waved a hand in the air, feigning nonchalance. ‘It might have something to do with that family thing we talked about the other day.’

Dapper rested his hand on Onyx’s shoulder and squeezed. For Dapper it was a major PDA.

Lost for words, I stared back at Onyx knowing, no matter what was in our past, he was now and forever my family.

‘I see you have the fire back in your eyes,’ Onyx said, glancing at Lincoln, who was talking to a nearby group. ‘Looks like things are finally how they should be for you.’

I nodded. ‘I’m
surprised
you
don’t have any gloating to do,’ I said, still half expecting a sly comment to follow. But then I followed Onyx’s line of sight to where Phoenix stood talking with some of the Rogues.

‘Apparently I’m turning into a bit of a girl.’ Onyx gave a tight smile. ‘Besides, I’ve already collected on all the betting pools.’ But his quip fell short of his usual flair.

I nodded, looking awkwardly at my feet as I said, ‘He could use a friend.’

When I looked up again, Onyx was giving one of his dramatic eye rolls. ‘Oh, please. I’ve seen what Phoenix does to his friends and it isn’t pretty.’

‘You’re not the only one who’s changed, Onyx,’ Dapper said softly.

Lincoln joined us then, halting our conversation. He shook hands with Dapper and Onyx and I could tell he was just as humbled by their presence as I had been.

After a brief chat to bring them up to speed – which Steph had mostly taken care of – Lincoln turned to me. ‘Vi, we only have a couple of hours left.’

I nodded. ‘I’ll be ready.’

Lincoln kissed me quickly and then rested his forehead against mine, speaking just to me. ‘I know, I have to go and take care of a few things but come and find me soon. I was hoping we could have a bit of time together, just us, before …’

I nodded, wanting nothing
more, before turning into the fray and getting on with business. As I walked away I wondered if it would always be like this: battle waiting as we joined hands and got on with the job, sharing brief kisses when we had the chance.

Could I be so blessed?

‘The belief in a supernatural source of evil is not necessary; men alone are quite capable of every wickedness.’

Joseph Conrad

B
y 10 p.m. the full moon, weighted with the promise of devastation, had risen above the steeple of St Louis Cathedral, and almost two and a half thousand Grigori had taken up position along the riverbank of the Mississippi.

Spotters had alerted us to a number of tournament fights that had already broken out within the city. The largest was happening within the old abandoned power plant on Market Street. Ray and Leila had led Gray and his team to deal with that and we left the other, smaller, battles to go on, knowing that tonight we had to be smart.

Sammael’s plan was
becoming clear, but the tournaments were one piece of the puzzle that still left me confused. All of our intel told us he was a purist – that he believed in the division between light and dark and that light would prevail – but then why bring them all here, knowing that even if the battle and the hurricane didn’t end them, the angels most definitely would? Was it simply to ensure his plan for devastation worked?

The conductors and senior Grigori had advised that Sammael would use the river to build the strength of his hurricane, so Phoenix and his team had taken up elevated positions along the river. We wouldn’t be able to stop all of the destruction caused to the outer wetlands and suburbs, but our military alliances had stepped up and covered as much ground as possible in the afternoon, evacuating many of those areas.

The river’s edge would be the place we would make our stand.

Of course, the always-statistical conductors also highlighted that it was suicide. This information, however, did not stop any Grigori from arming up – not even the conductors.

Steph had stayed by Salvatore’s side until he had left with Zoe and their team. I could see the fear in her eyes but, even more, her strength and acceptance that this would be her life if she was going to commit to being by this man’s side. Steph, Dapper and Onyx remained with the navy, who had anchored their ships with the intention of pulling back into the city on foot. They had taken Spence and Chloe with them and would push back as many of the city’s residents as they could along the way.

Drenson had made his unhappiness known to all in the final hours before we headed out, and now I observed as he and Adele stalked up and down the pavement on the edge of the French Quarter. He was using each return lap to glare at me.

Josephine and Griffin stood nearby shouting out orders to a number of their team members, positioning them where they could gain the best advantage.

‘You have a lot
to answer for, you know!’ I yelled over the wind.

Lincoln took my hand, trying to pull me back, but I wasn’t having it. This might be my last chance to say something.

Josephine, who was head to toe in fighting leathers, turned to meet my fierce expression.

‘I take it you are talking about Drenson. And I remind you that it is none of your business. You chose not to be a part of the Academy. Remember?’ She raised her eyebrow, knowingly. ‘Or has that changed?’

‘I’ve never
not
cared about the Academy, Josephine, but I refuse to let go of who I am in order to become one of your puppets.’ The wind picked up and I was grateful I’d tied my hair into a braid. ‘Does he even know how to fight?’ I blurted.

Josephine laughed, though she sobered quickly. ‘He is Grigori, Violet. He may choose an administrative role now, but he has faced many battles, of that you can be assured.’

Josephine’s words sank in and left me feeling reprimanded. I had passed my judgement on Drenson without really knowing him. His clear dislike for me had caused a defensive response from the beginning. I let go of Lincoln’s hand. ‘I’ll be back in a minute,’ I said, walking towards Drenson and Adele. As I approached, Adele cast her eyes away from me and meekly scurried off.

What
is
it with her?

Drenson walked around the corner, out of sight, and I followed, realising that Josephine was right. Who was I to criticise Drenson? Maybe we’d just started off on the wrong foot.

As soon as I turned
the corner, Drenson whipped around and had his hand around my neck. He pushed me back into the wall and squeezed, his face less than an inch from mine.